Supervisor named new middle school principal

Michael Mastroserio SPOTSWOOD — A new principal is headed to the Memorial Middle School.

Michael Mastroserio, a member of the school district's administrative staff for the past three years, will take over as the school's new chief in January. He will replace Thomas Weaver, who is retiring after 31 years of service, including 14 as the school's principal.

The Board of Education appointed Mastroserio during its Dec. 2 meeting.

Mastroserio told the Sentinel that being a school principal is something he "always dreamed of doing ... to be an educational leader of a building." This is his first time as principal, though he did serve for one year as vice principal of the Hammarskjold Middle School in East Brunswick.

Mastroserio, who lives in Brick Township, Ocean County, started his service in Spotswood in October 2005 as a supervisor of social studies but soon became the district's supervisor of technology, business and vocational education.

He previously worked as a district director and supervisor of social studies in the Paterson school district, and before that worked as vice principal at Hammarskjold, and as a middle school teacher for seven years in the Lakewood public school system.

He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science from New York University and a Master of Arts de- gree in educational leadership from Georgian Court College, Lakewood. He is an active member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and the International Society for Technology in Education.

Spotswood Superintendent of Schools John Krewer described Mastroserio as child-centered and passionate about learning, with an excellent grasp of middle-level education and the needs of middle school students.

Weaver announced this fall that he would be retiring effective Dec. 31. Many staff members praised him for his handson work over the years, crediting him with using the right techniques to prepare students for high school, and helping teachers while keeping them from being bogged down with administrative duties. "Tom Weaver set the standard as the leader of the Memorial Middle School," board President

Richard O'Brien said.

However, he expressed faith that Mastroserio would continue the tradition.

"We are excited about Mike Mastroserio carrying on that great legacy and working with our dedicated Memorial staff to further the Spotswood vision of building strong minds, bodies and communities," O'Brien said.

Mastroserio said much of the first year as principal has to be spent listening and observing what goes on in the middle school, and he hopes to ultimately take the school to the next level.

"It's a very good school, and I want to make it great," he said, adding that he is looking forward to the new role.

Mastroserio has a wife, Kathleen, and two children, Sophia, 7, and Paul, 4.